Study sends agriculture warning to Africa

Agricultural research produced in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation concluded last week that Africa should stop relying on just a handful of crops. Agricultural experts welcomed the research’s findings that agro-ecological systems could feed much of the world, but some expressed concern that the research was a smokescreen to minimise criticism against the Gates foundation. The foundation’s partnership with Monsanto, which patents genetically modified seeds, has given rise to accusations it is opening up new markets in Africa for the multinational group to monopolise seed markets in Africa. Read more here.